August 17, 2010

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Paul A. Garrahan and Jennifer K. Gardiner join ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice to protect the environment and combat drug trafficking in Oregon

Oregon Attorney General John Kroger today announced two new appointments to the Department of Justice. Paul Garrahan will act as Special Counsel to the Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources and Jennifer Gardiner will serve as a narcotics prosecutor with the Department's Criminal Justice Division.

"The hiring of Paul and Jennifer reinforces our commitment to making Oregon a safer and healthier place to live," said Attorney General Kroger.

Paul Garrahan graduated in 1996 from the University of Virginia School of Law. Garrahan clerked for a U.S. District Court judge and worked as an associate in Portland at Perkins Coie LLP, where he gained experience on Superfund and environmental litigation matters. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Garrahan served as a Senior Attorney at Metro, the Portland-area regional government where he worked as lead attorney for the Natural Areas Acquisition Program, including managing all legal aspects and overseeing property acquisition for the $227 million Natural Areas Acquisition Bond Measure approved by voters in 2006. Over the course of ten years working at Metro, Garrahan also provided legal advice on solid waste and recycling matters and on Metro's Nature in Neighborhoods Program. Garrahan, an Eagle Scout, recently stepped off the Board of Directors of Friends of Trees after serving in that role for eight years, but intends to continue his ten-year run as a Friends of Trees volunteer tree-planting crew leader.

As Special Counsel, Garrahan will advise the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General on litigation, regulation and legislation affecting the environment and natural resources.

Jennifer Gardiner obtained her law degree in 2000 from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Gardiner joins the Department of Justice after six years at the Yamhill County Deputy District Attorney's Office, where she gained extensive trial experience prosecuting domestic violence, murder, child sexual abuse and kidnapping cases. While attending law school, Gardiner clerked for the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and served as a legislative assistant to former U.S. Representative Esteban Torres in Washington, DC.

Gardiner will serve as a narcotics prosecutor on the Department of Justice's Drug Crimes Strike Force and work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies to break up drug cartels and monitor gang activity throughout the state. The Strike Force was created in September of 2009 by a $1.5 million federal grant to support the investigation and prosecution of major Drug Trafficking Organizations operating in Oregon.

Attorney General John Kroger leads the Oregon Department of Justice. The Department's mission is to fight crime and fraud, protect the environment, improve child welfare, promote a positive business climate, and defend the rights of all Oregonians.